Blog 1

Hey everyone, first blog.. finally!
(really sorry had planned to get my first blog up on Thursday)

I chose to look at the carpentry table at my centre. Children are often interested in creating new things there, even just being able to hammer a nail into a block of wood seems to satisfy them. They are exposed to such things as hammers, saw's, and more recently power drills all of which are supervised. Te Whaariki, (Ministry of Education, 1996), talks about the importance in exploring the physical environment and how it is important that children gain increasing motor and manipulative control and skill in using tools and materials safely.


Children are able to choose different materials to use in this area, such as different sized nails and also recycled things such as bottle tops, cardboard and crafts. We also have a registered builder come in every fortnight to  help children build projects for the centre, such as a bird house, pirate ship, fire engine etc. Children are involved in the whole process and because of this children are quite comfortable around the tools in the centre and know how to use them and be safe around them.


I find it interesting watching children in this area, some children like to just make holes in the wood with the drill, or saw part of a piece of wood or hammer a nail in a piece of wood just for fun, they like the novelty of it. Other children go to the area with a project in mind, they want a creation at the end of it, to talk about it to have it on display to have a sense of pride in what they can achieve.


This leads to many discussions with children, sometimes they have an idea but can't quite visualise what it actually looks like or how to start, so then we look up images on the computer or look at books to help them get a better picture of what they want to do. Other times children bring in things they want to build such as a toy aero-plane and they use this as a basis of what to do. "It is important teachers facilitate learning by creating a learning environment and offering learning experiences that are relevant and interesting to children." (Spodek & Saracho, 1994, as cited in MacNaughton & Williams, 2004, p 87)  When children have made creations we often take photo's of these with the child and note what it is and add it to our kindy carpentry book full of children's creations so children are able to look back on there creation or perhaps gain ideas from looking at others work. It evokes conversation and gets children interacting that little bit more.


Children's interests are important, if children aren't interested in what you are doing they get bored and it loses its appeal. We try incorporate these interests any way we can, we build on them by providing material and resources to help children extend these interests further. the carpentry table is often full of new resources for children to use. It gives them inspiration, builds on their creativity and allows them to make their own choices. Te Whaariki, (Ministry of Education, 1996), states that adults should plan activities, resources and events that build upon and extend children’s interests (p 83)  


Throughout children learning in this area, i find a hands off approach works well, you are there to observe, and help where needed to supervise the safety while using tools positioning yourself where you can see and intervene if needed but at the same giving them space to be creative. I feel this allows for better creative expression in children. "Positioning is the process of placing oneself near other individuals, groups or objects in ways that support children’s learning and that maintain children’s safety. Careful positioning of people can enrich children’s planned and unplanned learning experiences” (MacNaughton and Williams, 2004. pg 135)


Children are always thinking when using the technology in this area, they are creating new experiences for themselves, they are learning to problem solve, they are learning about how things work and why they work. They are gaining a greater understanding of the wider world and how things are made and created. They can take what they learn home to share with family and friends. a lot of the children that are really interested in carpentry at the centre take this knowledge home and create things with their family. They are constantly learning new skills, building on the ones they already have and finding new ways to express themselves. 


Children gain a sense of pride from what they are able to achieve, they learn their limitations and work through them. Using these tools allows children the freedom to express themselves, they are extending their knowledge by enquiring, exploring and asking questions. they work hard towards an end result, they enjoy the process and show great determination and perseverance throughout. The end result often then drives them to think bigger and so their imagination expands and their ideas become more detailed with greater meaning as they move throughout the process. "Te Whaariki states, that in order to participate in this world, our children will need the confidence to develop  their own perspectives as well as the capacity to continue acquiring new knowledge and skills." (Smori, 1999)

References.

McNaughton, G & Williams, G. (2004). Teaching young children. Choices in Theory and practice. Australia

Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whariki: He Whariki  matauranga mo nga mokopuna o Aotearoa. Wellington: Learning Media.


Smorti, S. (1999) Technology in Early Childhood. Early Education, 19, 5-10.